Vision 2028: Impact

Impact Report landing

About this report

In 1898, the newly formed County Borough of West Ham established a new technical institute to help educate and serve the local working-class community, women and others who were otherwise excluded from life-changing learning and modern careers. 125 years later, the University of East London - the “people’s university” - continues to pioneer futures for people from all backgrounds.

UEL now serves as both a leading anchor institution within east London, with deep and well-established roots in the diverse local community, and as a global gateway to the rest of the world. Based within the youngest, fastest growing and most diverse region in Europe and with a campus right next to London’s only Enterprise Zone, UEL holds a unique, 'glocal' responsibility and footprint to enhance lives and enrich futures in the continuous next.

As the economy transforms rapidly in line with an increasingly digital future, UEL is providing the next generation of digital workers, entrepreneurs, and researchers, partnering with some of the world’s leading technology companies including AWS, Microsoft, and Siemens.

At UEL’s heart is a mission for social justice and equity, tackling inequalities and increasing the diversity of the talent pipeline. Its ambitious and ground-breaking strategy to become the UK’s leading careers-intensive university has improved outcomes for students and helped businesses and organisations across the world progress their equality and diversity missions. UEL’s pioneering spirit, global partnerships, and dedication to equity have positioned it as a catalyst for positive change.

This report sets out UEL’s 'glocal' role, its commitment to sustainable economic development and social justice, and its significant impact on local communities, the UK economy, and the global stage.

This impact has been measured in a number of ways. To quantify the University’s economic impact, UEL worked with leading consultancies Public First and London Economics, who conducted independent assessments of its economic output and activity. To find out more about the methodology for these calculations, see the annex of the full version of the report, downloadable here. UEL’s impact has also been captured by measuring its civic footprint, looking at how the University interacts with its various local and global communities, and by using case studies to show the breadth and depth of UEL’s partnerships and research expertise. This work has been structured using an integrative framework that captures the economic, environmental, and socio-cultural impact of UEL’s activities. In reality, these forms of impact are not discrete – an environmental research project will also have economic and socio-cultural impact , for example – but each of the frameworks are outlined in detail in the full version of the report.

UEL’s Vision 2028 strategy is also aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. The 17 SDGs are an urgent call for action by all countries working together in a global partnership to build a better, fairer, more sustainable world. These ambitions are threaded through all of UEL’s impact, and the impact frameworks included in the full report also include information about which SDGs are most relevant to each section.

Introduced by Professor Amanda J. Broderick, Vice-Chancellor and President

UEL was founded 125 years ago this year, with a mission to help local people gain access to education in science, engineering, and the arts – providing emerging industries with skilled and creative workers from east London and empowering working-class men and women to gain a technical education that would once have been inaccessible.

Our origin as a ‘people’s university’ remains our ‘guiding star’, but within a new technological paradigm, a unique industry partnership approach and an increasingly global reach. Our innovative 10-year Vision 2028 strategy creates powerful impact, pioneering future careers and sustainable innovation for a changing world. The strategy’s success throughout its first five years has enabled the University to flourish and thrive in the continuous next.

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UEL has reduced its CO2 emissions more than any other modern university in London.
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UEL is ranked 1st in the UK for the number of care experienced undergraduate students.
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The 2023 Times Social Inclusion ranking placed UEL 1st in London for social inclusion and 12th nationally.

I have had the privilege of being part of the University of East London’s transformational journey through Vision 2028 over the last five years. We have remained true to our 1898 founding roots as West Ham Technical Institute, with a focus on unlocking opportunities for people from all parts of global society to reach their potential, guided by a clear vision to be a powerful force for positive societal change.

UEL’s resolute focus on lifting up talent and tackling the world’s most pressing issues through innovation and research, means that its impact resonates not only within campus walls. Our work is also having a profound positive impact for the broader communities we serve. I continue to be inspired by the dedication of our staff and partners, to break new ground in social mobility and empower individuals to shape a more equitable and inclusive future, and in doing so, shining a light on just how transformational education can and should be.

John Garwood
Chair of the Board, University of East London

UEL's impact in numbers

£814m - The total annual impact of UEL on the UK economy
£568m - UEL's direct and indirect economic output
£1 > £4.24 - Every £1 of university income returns £4.24 to the economy
1st - UEL has reduced its CO₂emissions more than any other modern university in London
1 in 12 - 1 in 12 Adult Nursing students in London is studying at UEL
1st - UEL is ranked 1st in the UK for the number of care experienced undergraduate students
6th - UEL is ranked 6th in the UK for annual graduate start-ups
2,500+ - The number of active, engaged employer partners UEL works with
160+ - The number of nationalities represented by the UEL student community
1st - The 2023 Times Social Inclusion ranking placed UEL 1st in London for social inclusion and 12th nationally

The transformation of UEL in recent years, has been underpinned by its commitment to driving social mobility. UEL’s determined focus on building career-readiness and providing an inclusive industry-facing environment, is having a transformative impact on its communities and exemplifies how education can be a force for positive change.

Professor Sir Les Ebdon CBE

Former Director of Fair Access to Higher Education

UEL Independent Governor